ST. MARTINS, Mo. -- A group of searchers took the night off as they searched an area near Jefferson City for a 9-year-old girl who went missing after visiting a friend.

Cole County Sheriff Greg White said Thursday that Elizabeth Olten left a friend's house just after 6 p.m. Wednesday and was supposed to walk a quarter-mile to her house in St. Martins, west of Jefferson City. Elizabeth was reported missing around 7 p.m.

"My niece is scared of the dark," Elizabeth's aunt Vicki Olten said. "I don't understand."

Elizabeth has long brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a pink sweater, T-shirt, blue jeans and white shoes.

Elizabeth's aunt describes her niece as a "tough tomboy," but only as tough as a 9-year-old can be.

"She's just a baby," Vicki Olten said.

White's last briefing of the day Thursday left no more hope than what was at 7 a.m. when the search started.

"Daylight is our friend, darkness is not," White said. "I'm a daddy and if my child was missing, I would be struggling."

More than 400 people searched a half-mile radius and surrounding areas of Elizabeth's home on Route D. Search crews battled rain and a ticking clock. Elizabeth's family and White said there are no signs of a troubled runaway, foul play or any other clues that might shed light on where she could be.

"It's been 24 hours, she's 9 years old ... being out there for two nights now," Vicki Olten said.

Searchers planned to renew their search Friday once they had sunlight. There will be a 10 a.m. news conference to offer updates on the search.

Officials have set up a 24-hour hot line for any information on the case at 866-362-6422.